Mark Cowne is a UK businessman with an extensive career in advertising and marketing. Cowne emigrated to South Africa in 1981 and later started a property development company (Aspects Property Developments), specialising in tourism related projects. During his time in South Africa, Cowne developed an interest in wildlife and conservation and worked in close association with the government and the National Parks Board for the development of a new socio-ecological game reserve in the North West – Madikwe Game Reserve.

Cowne secured the rights to develop a luxury private game lodge in the reserve (Tau Lodge) and structured a management and operational contract with a major hotel and leisure group. Working closely with wildlife experts, vets and officials, he was very active with “Operation Phoenix” and the re-stocking programme in Madikwe, assisting with the re-introduction and relocation of major mammals, including Elephants and Lions. Through his wife Gina's involvement with the The African Wildlife Club (AWC), Cowne assisted various bodies, including the Zimbabwe Wildlife Society and the Zimbabwe White Rhino Foundation with wildlife studies and research. The club had extensive links with a number of conservation bodies, wildlife trusts and charities, including ARC (The Animal Rehabilitation Centre).

Subsequent to the opening of Tau Lodge, Cowne sold his interest in the project and returned, with his family, to the UK where he became actively involved in a large carnivore re-introduction project in Scotland in his capacity as consultant and trustee of the European Nature Trust. During this time, Cowne started working with Gina, and together they founded the world renown talent management agency, Kruger Cowne. Cowne was honored in 2007 by the Royal Geographical Society with a Fellowship in recognition of his contribution to geography and wildlife.